Bob Ferguson (politician)

Bob Ferguson is a Democratic member of the King County Council, the legislative body for King County, Washington. Ferguson represents Council District 1, which includes northeast Seattle, Shoreline, Lake Forest Park, Kenmore, Bothell, and part of Woodinville.

Personal history

Ferguson was a litigation associate at Preston Gates & Ellis. He is a state champion chess player, a former Jesuit Volunteer and avid soccer player. Ferguson is a Seattle native and fourth-generation Washingtonian. He and his wife Colleen live in Seattle's Maple Leaf neighborhood with their newborn twins, Jack and Kate. [cite web | url=http://www.metrokc.gov/council/members/ferguson/biography.htm | title=Councilmember Bob Ferguson
publisher=King County | accessdate=2007-11-16]

Electoral history

Ferguson was first elected to the Metropolitan King County Council in 2003 by defeating Cynthia Sullivan, a 20-year veteran of the Council who was supported by much of the Democratic establishment in King County. Ferguson's doorbelling campaign energized the grassroots, however, and he managed to outpoll Sullivan by about 500 votes. [ [http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20030918&slug=sullivan18m] [cite web | url=http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/2003sep/resPage2.htm | title=2003 Primary Election results | publisher=King County | accessdate=2007-10-01] He faced no general election opponent in the heavily Democratic district. His campaign theme was "Time for a Change!" and he promised to bring new energy and ideas to the County Council. While the candidates agreed on many bedrock Democratic issues, they differed on a proposal to reduce the County Council from 13 members to nine. Ferguson supported the measure, which the public later passed, while Sullivan opposed it.

As a result of the council reduction, redistricting placed Ferguson in the same district as another Democratic County Councilmember, Carolyn Edmonds of Shoreline. In another competitive primary fight, Ferguson narrowly defeated Edmonds. [cite web | url=http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/2005sep/resPage3.htm | title=2005 Primary Election results | publisher=King County | accessdate=2007-10-01] He went on to defeat Republican challenger Steven Pyeatt in the general election, winning approximately 74% of the vote. [cite web | url=http://www.metrokc.gov/elections/2005Nov/resPage3.htm | title=2005 General Election results | publisher=King County | accessdate=2007-10-01]

In 2007, Ferguson briefly explored a run for the position of King County Prosecutor. [cite web | url=http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/318030_prosecutor01.html | title=Race for prosecutor already shaping up | publisher=Seattle Post Intelligencer | accessdate=2007-11-16]

Accomplishments

Since being elected to the Council, Ferguson has served as Chair of the Regional Policy and Law, Justice and Human Services Committees. He is currently Chair of the County Council's Operating Budget, Financial Management and Select Issues Committee.

In 2005, he co-sponsored legislation to place a ballot measure before the voters of King County to generate revenue to improve veterans services and other human services. County residents approved the measure, generating $26 million annually for veterans and families.

In 2007, Ferguson co-sponsored legislation increasing the sales tax by one tenth of one percent in order to expand mental health, chemical dependency and therapeutic court programs to reduce costly and unnecessary involvment in the criminal justice system by mentally ill and chemically dependent individuals, and to save lives. The council approved the measure on a bipartisan vote. [cite web | url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004003624_mentalhealth09m.html | title=County panel backs tax boost to improve mental health care | publisher=Seattle Times | accessdate=2007-11-16]

Ferguson has prioritized election reform. He co-sponsored an independent audit of the county's election office. His other policy priorities include law and justice issues, improving transit service, and preserving and protecting historic buildings and open spaces across the county.

Footnotes